A Kitchen with Old-World Charm Meets Modern Amenities

This kitchen's 10-foot-long island is the home's most popular spot for cooking, conversing, eating, and more. Plus, after the meal is prepared, the island can be converted into a serving buffet that's perfectly suited for a busy family. Nearby, an angled section of cabinetry offers more prep space and houses a pair of convenient refrigerator drawers that allow access without getting in the cook's way.

In addition to space, style, and storage, this dramatic kitchen also boasts endless amounts of natural light. A large window over the kitchen sink ensures the homeowners always have a clear shot of the yard beyond. The kitchen's open floor plan also allows a view into the nearby living room.

Although it's new, the kitchen -- as well as the rest of the home -- was designed to look as if it had been part of the property for years. To get the look, the white-painted cabinetry was finished with a gray glaze and topped with complementary granite countertops that feature smatterings of grays and blacks on ivory. The sink was custom crafted from the same granite as the countertop and features a deep basin and two faucets.

Although the island is this kitchen's main work space and gathering spot, the range area was designed to be the room's focal point. The room's designer and the cabinetmaker worked together to create a stunning ventilation hood that would make a distinct style statement without overwhelming the space. Flanked by two decorative brackets, the range hood echoes the furniture-style details featured throughout the room on the cabinetry and the island.

A white-painted coffered ceiling keeps the dramatic kitchen feeling light, airy, and enticing to family and friends alike. In addition to natural light streaming in from the windows, the kitchen's main work spaces were highlighted to ensure cooking and gatherings can continue well into the night hours.

Well-planned storage organizes the large kitchen into work zones. This section of cabinetry, located right next to the range, features a toaster and microwave oven to serve as a handy breakfast pantry. Slide-out storage keeps everything within easy reach for the family's busy morning routine.

A pair of full-size refrigerators with four freezer drawers organizes cold storage according to meal times -- the left side corrals lunch and dinner, while the right side holds breakfast items. Fitted with cabinet fronts, the refrigerators blend with nearby cabinetry, while furniture-style feet and molding give the unit hutchlike appeal.

To ease entertaining for more formal occasions, the kitchen comes complete with an adjacent butler's pantry. The secluded space provides additional room for food prep as well as cleanup, augmented by a second sink and dishwasher. Charcoal-gray tiles with a subtle metallic finish continue from the kitchen walls and backsplash into the butler's pantry. Extending the tiles up to the ceiling is indicative of European decor and conveys the kitchen's English-inspired roots.